This picture was taken right before our first competition in 2015-2016

The Southwest Math Team has had the largest math team in the state of Minnesota every year for that last several years. Most teams in the league opperate with 15-20 students. With over 100 students on out active roster this year, Southwest has achieved "super large status". Many of those students attended several of the competitions this year.

The team has been successful in recent years, winning the Minneapolis division every year for the last eleven years and finishing within the top ten teams in the state during several of those same years. This year, the Varsity team finished the season ranked 17th in the state out of 172 teams in the league. That performance placed us in the second "Class" at the state tournament, effectively competing against teams ranked 15-29. At the state tournament, we finished in fourth place in the Beta Class, narrowly missing a first place finish. The teams in positions 1-5 in Beta Class that the State Tournament were separated by a total of five points (out of 136 points availabe to each team). It was a very close competition.

The Minnesota State High School Mathematics League exists to identify students who have unusual mathematical ability, to give them recognition and encouragement, to bring them together with similarly gifted students for mutual stimulation, and to prod them into the study of topics not commonly taught in the high school curriculum.

As the coaches of the Southwest Math Team, we try to go further by encouraging as many students as possible to participate in math team practices and events. While the math teachers at Southwest certatinly recognize that our academic club isn't first on everyone's list, we stand by our belief that many students will significantly benefit from the experiences we offer in practice and in competition.

Our practices run two times per week this year. We hold practice after school on Monday in room W118A from 3:15 until 4:30. We also hold practice before school on Thursday in room W118A from 7:00 until 7:50.

Additionally, the Southwest Math Team and the Southwest Math Department host the American Mathematics Competition Exams (AMC 10 and AMC 12) in February. We will run two sessions this year, both after school. Contact David McMayer if interested.

Practices will start on September 11 this year and continue through February. Contact David McMayer for details about joining the team!